WORK EXPERIENCE

•  State Senator, District 21 Leeward Coast (01/2011-present)

Chair, Hawaiian Affairs Commitee

Member, Ways and Means Committee

Member, Transportation Committee

Member of Women's Caucus and Native Hawaiian Caucus

•  State House Representative, District 45 Waianae/Makaha/Makua (01/2003-12/2010)

Chair, Human Services & Housing Committee (2005-2006)

Vice Chair, Hawaiian Affairs Committee (2009-2010)

•  Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - Leeward Office (06/2001-present)

Represent clients in family, housing, public benefits, & consumer court and administrative proceedings; teach divorce, custody & paternity clinics; conduct staff training, intake services, & legal research; write legal memorandums; provide legal counsel & advice

•  Law Clerk at State District Court (6/2000-6/2001)
•  Legal Assistant to Alan Burdick (8/1998-12/1999)
•  Research Assistant to Prof. Eric Yamamoto at University of Hawaii School of Law (5/1999-8/1999)
•  Paralegal at Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (2/1992-08/1998)
•  Reporter for The Leeward Coaster (1992-1997)
•  Editorial Intern at Trade Publishing Company (1996)
•  State Health Insurance Program Clerk at Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (1989)

EDUCATION AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• J.D., University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law (May 2000)

- Best Brief Appellate Advocacy Section 2

- Top Quartile, '97-'98

- Top 50% '98-'99 and '99-'00

- Environmental Law Society Co-Director and Co-Vice Director

- Advocates for Public Interest Law Summer Grantee and Board Member

- National Association for Public Interest Law Student Representative and Delegate

- Student Bar Association 1L Representative

- Scholarships: HI Legal Auxiliary, Delta Gamma Foundation, and Alumnae Golf Tournament

- Nā Loio O He‘e Nalu Co-Director (surf club)

- Delta Theta Phi Treasurer

• B.A. English, The Colorado College (December 1991)

- Dean's List

- Track & Field / Cross Country Team Member

- Vice President - Rush, Delta Gamma Sorority

- National Spanish Honor Society

• ‘Iolani School (1984-1988); Our Lady of Sorrows, nka Ho‘ala School (1982-1983); Wai‘anae Elementary (1977-1981); Maili Bible School (1975-1976)

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
•  Friends of Ohikilolo member (2017-present)
•  Women of Wai‘anae volunteer (2010-present)
•  Land Shark Invitational Surf Meet planner & top three finisher (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2016) (1997-present)
•  Legal Aid Society of Hawaii Fundraising volunteer (2012-present)
•  Leeward Community College-Wai‘anae Moku Community Advisory Board (2009-present)
•  Hawaii State Bar Association/Young Lawyers Division community service volunteer (2002-2017)
•  MA‘O Organic Farm fundraising committee (2006-2011)
•  "People's Path" grant writer, volunteer, and event coordinator (2008-2011)
•  Chair, Health & Human Service Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii (2007)
•  Hawaii Children's Trust Fund Advisory Board (2008)
•  Empower Wai‘anae Steering Committee (2003-2007)
•  Wai‘anae Lion's Club member (2003-2009)
•  Welfare and Employment Rights Coalition member (2001-2006)

HONORS AND AWARDS
•  Aloha Spirit Award (Landshark Invitational Surf Meet 2019)
•  K.E.L.I.I. Foundation Honorable Recognition (2019)
•  Ku‘i ‘Ai Award (Ku‘i at the Capitol 2019)
•  Advocates for Public Interest Law "Pick of the Year" Award (2016)
•  Waianae Hawaiian Civic Club Honoree (2014)
•  Outstanding Woman Lawyer of the Year (Hawaii Women Lawyers 2013)
•  25 People for the Next 25 Years (Hawaii Business Magazine 2007)
•  Distinguished Supporter Award (University of Hawaii Center for Hawaiian Studies 2006)
•  Best Up and Coming Legislator (Honolulu Weekly 2005)
•  Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute Discovery Leadership Fellow (2003)
•  Center on Women's Policy Studies Foreign Policy Institute Fellow (2003)
•  Hawaii Women's Legal Auxiliary Scholarship (2000)
•  Advocates for Public Interest Law Grantee (1998)